2026 World Cup qualifiers: Burkina Faso face Egypt without key player | OneFootball

2026 World Cup qualifiers: Burkina Faso face Egypt without key player

Ouagadougou has been buzzing with excitement since September 8. At the fully renovated Stade du 4 Août, the Burkina Faso national team will host Egypt at 16:00 GMT in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. In this crucial round eight clash, the Stallions will be missing a key player.

That player is Arsène Kouassi. The left-back, who recently joined Lorient in Ligue 1 from Ajaccio in France’s second division, is once again absent—just as he was during the 6-0 win over Djibouti. The News Stars Academy graduate from Ouagadougou will miss this all-important Group A fixture. This match also marks the Stallions’ return in front of their home fans after a four-year absence caused by the closure of the nation’s main stadium.

What’s the reason?

Arsène Kouassi is not injured. The 20-year-old defender is enjoying a stellar start to the season, having played the full 270 minutes of Lorient’s first three Ligue 1 matches. The modern full-back even provided an assist in Lorient’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Rennes in round two.

His absence is due to an administrative issue. At the pre-match press conference, the coach confirmed the news. Brama Traoré expressed hope that the problem would be resolved before the highly anticipated clash with Mohamed Salah and company, but as of the latest reports, no final solution had been found. As a result, Arsène Kouassi has left the national team camp.

The former Ajaccio player received his first call-up to the Burkina Faso senior team in March 2025. For the same reasons, he only made his debut in June during a friendly against Tunisia (a 0-2 defeat), marking his first appearance for the team. Kouassi is of Ivorian descent.

Burkina Faso’s clash with Egypt is scheduled for 16:00 GMT on Tuesday, September 9, at Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou.